All babies have to grow up sometime, and Glen “Big Baby” Davis is no exception. The junior forward announced Tuesday his time with the LSU basketball program is finished, and he will forgo his senior season at LSU to enter the 2007 NBA Draft. “Last year [2005-2006], our team had great success,” Davis said. “One of my reasons for not leaving school last year was my hope that I could build that experience and go even further this year. Unfortunately that didn’t happen … After one of the toughest years I’ve had in my career, I believe that I am now mentally and physically [ready] to make the move to the next level.” The Baton Rouge native leaves LSU No. 10 on the school’s all-time scoring list and is only the second player, along with former Tiger Shaquille O’Neal, to amass 1,500 points, 900 rebounds and 100 blocks. His NBA career will officially get underway when he takes part in league’s predraft camp May 28 to June 5 in Orlando, Fla. Davis’ announcement came after weeks of speculation on whether or not the 2006 Southeastern Conference Player of the Year would leave LSU. Sportsillustrated.com reported March 13 that Davis would be leaving for the NBA, but the Web site recanted its report later in the day by saying that the forward was only “leaning toward going pro.” Davis said he has interviewed a select group of sports agents over the past week and has signed with John Hamilton of Performance Sports Management. “This is a lifelong dream of mine, one which I have given a great deal of thought to,” Davis said. “I feel that I have grown a lot during this season, and I know in my heart that the time is right.” Davis is the third LSU underclassman in as many years to declare for the NBA Draft. Chicago Bulls forward Tyrus Thomas entered the draft in 2006 and was selected fourth overall by the Portland Trailblazers before being traded to Chicago. New Orleans Hornets forward Brandon Bass entered the 2005 draft and was picked No. 33 overall. LSU coach John Brady, who was seated next to Davis during his announcement, said his only advice to Davis was do whatever he felt was best for him. “I told Glen two weeks ago when we met about this process … regardless of where somebody may tell you you may wind up in the draft, he needs to go where his heart moves him to go, and [when] he feels like it is the right time for him. And he feels that way.” Davis led the Tigers in scoring and rebounding this past season, averaging 17.7 points and 10.4 rebounds per game while shooting 48 percent from the field and 35 percent from behind the 3-point line. Davis’ field goal percentage has decreased in each of his three seasons as a Tiger, but his 3-point field goal percentage, rebounding average and total assists have risen each season. Tuesday’s announcement came with several members of Davis’ family in attendance, including his mother Tonya Davis, who was arrested Jan. 22 on charges of cocaine possession and prostitution. She was booked into the East Baton Rouge Parish Prison and posted $15,000 bond about two and a half hours before her son made the most difficult decision of his career. The elder Davis said she hopes the positive demeanor her son has carried throughout his life stays with him at the next level. “All I want him to do is to continue to be humble,” she said. “Humbleness is what got him here today, and by being humble he can hear what God has to tell him.” Davis said she always suspected her son would one day be a professional athlete, but she figured it would be on the gridiron and not the hardwood. “I thought it was going to be football,” she said jokingly. “But I remember when I went into labor, I was shooting a basketball, and my water broke. So maybe that’s what did it.”
—–Contact Tyler Batiste at [email protected]